Wade commits to shooting coach, not to Olympics

MIAMI — In 2008, Dwyane Wade used the Olympics in Beijing to announce his return to health, starring off the bench, propelling himself to arguably his most dynamic regular season.

This time, he might try getting healthy by staying home.

Wade was again non-committal Monday about participating in the 2012 Games in London, indicating that he will meet with doctors he trusts later this week, “and sit down and make what I feel is the best decision for me, and the most important decision for my career.” That will include an MRI on his left knee, “my power knee, my explosion knee,” which swelled repeatedly during the playoffs, kept him from getting much past what he termed “80 percent” and required draining prior to Game 3 of the second round against Indiana – one of the worst games of his career.

“I had to go through a lot to play,” Wade said. “It was crazy.”

One of Wade’s Heat teammates, LeBron James, will definitely start for the U.S. With the injuries to Dwight Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge, Chris Bosh will likely have a spot as well, if he wants it. Bosh said Monday he is waiting on the “green light,” after an examination of his abdomen, which he strained six weeks ago.

Whenever Wade gets back on the court this summer, he plans to emphasize his outside game, from the three-point line to the mid-range area. To do this, he plans to hire a shooting coach, something he tried briefly before, but “I was stubborn then” and believes he would be more receptive now.